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Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson Louise O’Reilly TD has said that four key areas need to be tackled in order to address the record levels of overcrowding in Emergency Departments.

Speaking this afternoon, Deputy O’Reilly said:

“There have been record levels of people left on trolleys for the first seven months of 2017 and there have been outrageously high numbers of patients left on trolleys throughout the summer months.

“It is hugely concerning that in the month of July 6,353 people were left on trolleys throughout the state. Such high numbers are quite worrying, especially with the autumn and winter months just down the line.

“The crisis in our Emergency Departments has been increasing year on year and month on month. If something is not done 2017 could be the first year where the number of patients on trolleys breaks the 100,000 mark.

“If Minister Harris is serious about addressing the issues which create this crisis then he needs to tackle four main areas, recruitment and retention of staff, reopening closed beds, adequate step down facilities, and proper primary and community care.

“Each of these issues is interlinked and if unaddressed they will continue to contribute to the trolley crisis.

“Yesterday I launched a healthcare document on tacking the issue causing the A&E crisis - 'Addressing Capacity: ending the chaos in accident and emergency'.

"In it I outlined how tackling the four key areas would increase capacity, reduce numbers in acute care and, reduce numbers presenting at A&E, thus, reducing the numbers and pressure on Emergency Departments.

“I am open to helping the Minister to resolve this crisis; this is not about party politics. If the Minister seeks workable solutions from the opposition I am more than willing to help him."